Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 58

58. Different Dreams (3)

The owner of the bunker was none other than the Ability Management Department’s Sejong Research Institute.

More than being tricked, Hyun-woo knew the Ability Management Department meddled in everything related to domestic dungeons, mana, and Hunters. They were also interested in strategic assets for emergencies.

The bunker that Hyun-woo coveted had been bought by the Ability Management Department to be used as a shelter in case of emergency.

‘This might work out for the best,’ Hyun-woo thought as he watched the car approach the bunker. He needed to meet with the Sejong Research Institute anyway.

As soon as the car stopped, a middle-aged woman stepped out. She had sharp features, and her face seemed familiar.

‘Have I seen her on TV?’

As soon as the woman saw Hyun-woo, she smiled broadly and extended her hand.

“I’m Do Won-kyung, the head of the Sejong Research Institute. You must be Kang Hyun-woo. You look much more formidable in person than in the photos I saw. I tried to visit you a few times, but you were never home.”

“Nice to meet you.”

She must have come to his house. He had written down his address and phone number when he was registered as an Awakened, so he considered it normal.

Hyun-woo turned to introduce Yoo-min to Do Won-kyung, but he noticed Yoo-min’s stiff expression.

Hyun-woo remembered that she didn’t want to meet anyone from the Sejong Research Institute.

“Yoo-min.”

Do Won-kyung also looked uncomfortable, but she extended her hand to Yoo-min. However, Yoo-min reluctantly nodded instead of shaking it.

“Dr. Do Won-kyung.”

“Are you still stuck in that lab? That guy is exploiting Yoo-min. It’s a waste of talent.”

“It’s much more comfortable than when I was with you, Doctor.”

It seemed like they had a history. Since they both worked in the same field, he guessed they might have been like a teacher and student in the past.

Do Won-kyung turned to Hyun-woo as if a brief greeting was enough.

“It’s difficult to get a moment with you. Kang Hyun-woo seems to have a busy schedule, so shall we skip the trivialities and get straight to the point?”

“Sure…”

“I understand you don’t belong to any clan, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“I see. You said you wanted to buy this bunker? I’ll give it to you for free. And I can offer you an annual salary of 80 million won [approximately $60,000 USD], a civil servant pension, insurance, and preferential treatment equivalent to a vice-ministerial level. In return, would you consider working at our research institute?”

Her offer was so bold that he was taken aback.

Usually, shouldn’t this kind of thing be discussed while sitting down and having tea, not standing here as soon as you get out of the car?

“A job? I don’t have anything I can do at the research institute.”

“It’s not difficult. A few tests and Q&A sessions, and very occasional blood draws or simple physical exams are enough.”

In short, she was saying she would hire him as an experimental subject. Even if Hyun-woo could control the intensity of the experiments, the underlying nature wouldn’t change much.

“Do I look like I’m short on money?”

“You can’t buy a building like this with money alone.”

Do Won-kyung pointed to the bunker and said.

“Do you prefer to beat around the bush or engage in wordplay? I’m sorry, but both you and I have to manage our schedules down to the minute. I’d appreciate it if we could go straight to acceptance, rejection, or condition negotiation.”

Hyun-woo didn’t know whether to be angry or appreciate her impolitely direct tone. It was his favorite way of speaking, but Do Won-kyung honestly threw words as if she was charged by the word.

Hyun-woo crossed his arms.

To research his abilities, Yoo-min’s abilities alone weren’t enough. It would be much faster if the state helped, but the problem was that very state.

They might try to interfere with or pry into the source of Hyun-woo’s power.

“How far can you raise the conditions?”

“Do I seem like someone who would haggle over conditions? When I participate in an auction, I bid the highest price right from the start. If that doesn’t work, it’s over.”

“It doesn’t seem like a very generous offer for that approach.”

“It may seem that way compared to a company. The government likes to offer less money and instead use other benefits to entice you. They have a lot they can do.”

“For example?”

“Things that companies can’t do, like tax benefits, amnesty, or military exemptions. It costs less money and is good for showing off. Once you work with us, you’ll see how much we can do.”

That was certainly true. If Hyun-woo hadn’t already received a military exemption because he was an orphan, he would have been very interested.

“Let’s add a condition that isn’t about budget. Don’t interfere even if I join another clan.”

“I don’t see why I can’t accept that as long as it doesn’t affect the research institute’s schedule. What else?”

“Confidentiality of research content.”

“What is the scope of confidentiality?”

“It means that it should not be leaked to anyone other than the research institute and me.”

“Okay.”

Do Won-kyung grabbed Hyun-woo’s hand and shook it vigorously.

“I was going to ask for that, but I’m glad Kang Hyun-woo brought it up first. Are these conditions sufficient? Please feel free to suggest anything else you want to request.”

Hyun-woo was taken aback by Do Won-kyung’s quick acceptance.

Do Won-kyung was the head of a national research institute and naturally had an obligation to report on the research results.

An institution that doesn’t report is meaningless.

But she was accepting the promise that the research institute and Hyun-woo would exclusively monopolize the research content?

Originally, he was going to minimize the scope of confidentiality to Do Won-kyung, who was showing reluctance. And after confirming the connection to the higher-ups from there, he was going to try to contact them.

If it was information that only a minimum number of people should know, it would truly be connected to the real power.

***

Do Won-kyung cheered inwardly when she saw the bewilderment flash across Hyun-woo’s face.

‘As expected.’

He definitely knew something about his constitution.

There wasn’t much that could be found out with a few drops of blood. But if the Sejong Research Institute could monopolize Hyun-woo’s body itself, it could produce better results than exploring hundreds of dungeons. Do Won-kyung was confident in that.

‘Maybe the success of that plan can be advanced.’

The man named Kang Hyun-woo was just a beginner who had only cleared a 1-Star Dungeon. His level was probably only around 7 or 8.

It was more advantageous to keep him in hand and manage him carefully while he was still small. Absolute secrecy was necessary for this.

***

Meanwhile, Kang Hyun-woo recalled a possibility when he saw Do Won-kyung’s smile.

‘Ah, she sees me as a pyramid scheme [a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme].’

A small existence that can be held in place with money and a few benefits.

She was thinking that she could keep him in the research institute while providing generous benefits that didn’t match his abilities. The confidentiality condition could also be understood in that context.

In Do Won-kyung’s eyes, Hyun-woo was a unique existence, not a great one.

It wasn’t that she didn’t have an eye for people, but rather that she approached it from the perspective of a thoroughly logical researcher.

Like a strange hamster that can be kept in a cage and cherished.

But what if?

What if she found out that the hamster could become a monster that tears hands apart?

Hyun-woo smiled back at Do Won-kyung and waved his hand.

For Hyun-woo, it was good that the other party looked down on him. That way, he would feel better when he crushed that expression.

The promise Do Won-kyung made would end up tying her own ankles.

The two’s different dreams began.

***

Jeoldu Mountain Martyr Site.

This cliff, where Catholic believers were beheaded in the past, evoked a sense of eeriness and sublimity with its history alone. But on that steep cliff, there was another strange space that had been newly formed.

The cliff suddenly transformed into a rough, dark-colored wall, and stone structures made of black stone appeared.

A space with half-built walls and pillars, and chaotically broken sculptures scattered around.

It was the 3-Star Dungeon in the middle of Seoul, the Jeoldu Dungeon.

According to the principle of attaching regional names to dungeons below 3-Star, the official name was initially Mangwon Dungeon, but the name ‘Beheading’ carried a heavy weight. And as the name suggested, it had devoured countless Hunters.

The Jeoldu Dungeon was still waiting to cut off the heads of unsuspecting Hunters.

On a rainy night, a man was pulling a carrier towards the Jeoldu Dungeon.

Unlike the 1-Star Cheonggye Dungeon, the area around the Jeoldu Dungeon was surrounded by multiple layers of barbed wire and a 3-meter-high wall.

Right next to it, there were accommodations for a company-sized force to stand by and even machine gun emplacements.

All of this equipment was in preparation for the monsters that could come out of the Jeoldu Dungeon. Even among the security forces, there were Hunters on standby at all times.

But even so, it couldn’t be said that the security was sufficient. A 3-Star Dungeon in the middle of a metropolis with a population of 10 million was threatening enough in itself.

Moreover, the Jeoldu Dungeon, which had a fluid attribute, was a place where monsters leaked out of the dungeon about once a month.

“Stop, stop!”

A soldier on the wall spotted the approaching man and aimed his gun. The guard was mostly facing the dungeon, so the discovery was delayed. Bright headlights illuminated the man.

“What’s your business?”

“I’m a Hunter. I’ve come to visit the Jeoldu Dungeon.”

The soldiers on guard began to murmur. It was not unusual for a Hunter to visit the dungeon, but it was strange for anyone to visit alone on a rainy night.

“Ha Sung-jin’s team, who left on an expedition a week ago, is late in returning. If they don’t achieve their expedition goals within 6 days, we agreed to meet near the entrance to replenish supplies. I’ll just deliver the goods and come out with a return scroll, so don’t worry.”

With that, the man took out a return scroll, which was an item, from his pocket. If he had a return scroll, he could return to the entrance even if he didn’t acquire a return stone.

The squad leader looked through the entry ledger and confirmed that there was a team that had left a week ago. It was definitely time for their supplies to run out.

It usually takes about a week to ten days to completely clear the Jeoldu Dungeon. Soon the gate opened.

The soldiers checked the man’s ID. He was a mid-level Hunter from the All-Powerful League. They didn’t check his luggage.

Their mission was to prevent things inside the barbed wire from going out, not to prevent things outside from going in.

The soldier returned the ID and said.

“Be careful. They say it’s been particularly volatile lately, so monsters may appear as soon as you enter.”

The Hunter nodded silently.

With each step he took among the dark-colored sculptures standing in disorder, the sound of rain and silent footsteps echoed.

Then only the sound of footsteps echoed. As the swaying vision slowly returned to normal, what he saw was a huge maze made of black basalt.

There was no one waiting around. But either way, the Hunter had no intention of finding them.

The Hunter hesitated for a moment as he tried to open the large carrier, but then he opened the carrier as if he had made up his mind. Then, as if by magic, a goblin crouching inside jumped out.

Even though the goblin was small, it was surprisingly flexible.

“Kireuk, is this the place?”

The Hunter was speechless at the sight of the goblin even speaking.

Even its appearance was different from ordinary goblins. Its skin color was somewhat dark, its physique was much better, and its equipment seemed better than that of an average Hunter.

“…I guess my job ends here?”

“Yeah, go away.”

Kirson waved his hand without looking back. The Hunter couldn’t believe that he was talking to a goblin, and that the goblin was answering him.

But he had already clearly confirmed that fact and started before taking the job.

“…I don’t owe Mr. Park Hwi-so any more. A talking monster, I don’t know what you’re thinking…”

The Hunter tore the return scroll, muttering words he didn’t even ask, for himself who felt like he was going crazy. The Hunter’s figure disappeared in an instant.

Kirson looked around and took out his luggage from the carrier. There was a black children’s raincoat and the supplies he needed for a short stay. He had to achieve the goal Hyun-woo had instructed him to do here.

“Krrr…”

At that moment, a pair of red eyes appeared in the darkness. A ferocious hostility was felt.

Kirson remembered Park Hwi-so telling him before coming here that ordinary Hunters clear this place in about a week.

Kirson thought about how long it would take him.

“At this level…”

Kirson muttered, spinning the Winter Reaper’s Scythe around.

“It’ll take about 3 days. Kireuk.”